non-human mutant mammal for expression of the alpha6 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and use for screening substances that interact with receptor

The invention concerns a non-human mammal bearing a mutation in the gene encoding the alpha6 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor (nAChR) subunit, said mutation preventing the expression in the mammal of said alpha6 nAChR subunit in functional form. The invention also concerns preparations of synaptosomes obtained from said animals and cell cultures obtained by mutation of the alpha6 subunit described above.